Morning Glories Volume One Trade Paperback Review

Introduction:

Imagine getting the opportunity of a lifetime as a young teenager. A prestigious academy wants you to go to their school. Your track to Ivy League schools, great paying jobs, and your entire future is set with this one decision. It is a simple choice, yes? When you arrive everything seems so perfect, so right, until the truth becomes frighteningly clear. Your family does not remember you, you are a prisoner with no escape, your classmates try to kill you, and your teachers version of a test is closer to a punishing survival course full of deadly traps. Welcome to Morning Glory Academy.

Vitals

Title: Morning Glories Vol. 1
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Joe Eisma
Covers: Rodin Esquejo
Colors: Alex Sollazzo
Letters: Johnny Lowe
Content: Morning Glories is contains graphic violence, language, and is for mature readers.
Publisher: Image Comics

Story:

The story is simple enough in its setup. Six teenagers of greatly varied backgrounds have all been invited to the Morning Glory Academy. This prestigious school is a once in a lifetime opportunity to set them up on the fast track in life. Everything seems perfect, too perfect, and soon the façade falls away to reveal a terrible fate for those attending this school. The six teenagers have to work together to get answers, protect each other, and stay alive in this house of horrors that has taken them in, but will not let them go until they die.

Review:

Morning Glories mixes a lot of different genres quite well. There are elements from teen drama, mystery, action, superheroes, and more. From the get go you are drawn in by a grizzly realization that this academy has some sort of nefarious plot for their students, but what that plot is has yet to be revealed.

The art of Morning Glories also fits very well. It was sharp, stylish and very much adds to the story. These characters need to look good, and I think something grittier would not have worked so well. The coloring is also nice, bright and fitting of this picture perfect setting. The overall package is well done.

As a whole, I thought the writing was very good. You cared for these characters and wanted them to get out from the first scene. The unanswered questions kept me reading, wanting to find out what the heck is going on and why these kids were being tortured. It was a fast paced story and I read it pretty quickly. Spencer does a great job of hooking us and keeping us glued to the page to find out what is going to happen next.

My biggest complaint was that although I devoured the story, I wasn’t totally satisfied. I was left hungry with too many unanswered questions. There were some minor things revealed, but nothing very big in my estimation, because any revelations were met with more and more questions. It got to be a bit frustrating.

Conclusion:

Even though I felt the first volume had some letdowns, I really want to keep reading and see if there are any answers waiting me. The series is up to issue eleven at the time of writing this so I will surely read the next arc. For me though, if I still don’t have any real answers after two big storylines, then my interest might wane to push forward and find out more. I guess I feel that I have this carrot before me pulling me along, but if I don’t get to take a bite out of that carrot now and then, it will cease to be something that pulls me along. I need answers!

I do recommend this first volume despite my criticism. It is well drawn, written, and clever in its delivery. I am very interested in what answers are revealed, but if I don’t get any soon, I will certainly be a very frustrated reader.